Bupropion Sr

The usual recommended dose is 100 mg to 150 mg once daily. In some cases, doses of up to 300 mg per day may be used. Daily doses over 150 mg are divided into two doses. Do not exceed the maximum dose of 300 mg per day, and do not take a single dose greater than 150 mg.

Multiple daily doses should be taken at least 8 hours apart. It is very important that bupropion tablets be swallowed whole and not chewed, broken, or crushed.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Bupropion Sr exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose of Bupropion Sr, skip the missed dose and carry on with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Bupropion Sr at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

100 mg
Each blue, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet debossed with "BP" over "100" on one side contains 100 mg of bupropion hydrochloride. Nonmedicinal ingredients: carboxyvinyl polymer, colloidal silicon dioxide, FD&C Blue No. 1, HMPC 2910/hypromellose 6 cP, iron oxide black JPE, glyceryl behenate, lactose anhydrous, magnesium stearate, macrogol/PEG 400, polyethylene oxide, and titanium dioxide.

150 mg
Each purple, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet debossed with "BP" over "150" on one side contains 150 mg of bupropion hydrochloride. Nonmedicinal ingredients: carboxyvinyl polymer, colloidal silicon dioxide, glyceryl behenate, lactose anhydrous, Macrogol/PEG 3350, magnesium stearate, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide. The 150 mg tablet also contains FD&C Red No. 40 and FD&C Blue No. 2.

Do not use Bupropion Sr if you:

• are allergic to bupropion or to any of the ingredients of the medication
• are currently taking thioridazine (an antipsychotic medication) or have taken it in the past 2 weeks
• are having abrupt withdrawal issues from alcohol, benzodiazepines (e.g., Diazepam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam), or other sedatives (e.g., Phenobarbital)
• are taking another medication that contains bupropion (e.g., Zyban® or Wellbutrin® XL)
• have a seizure disorder or a history of seizures
• have or have had an eating disorder (bulimia or anorexia nervosa)
• have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO inhibitor; e.g., Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine) within the past 2 weeks

There may be an interaction between bupropion and any of the following:

• alcohol
• amphetamines (e.g., amphetamine, Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine)
• antihistamines(e.g., doxylamine, Diphenhydramine, Hydroxyzine)
• anti-malarial medications (e.g., chloroquine, Mefloquine)
• anti-Parkinson medications (e.g., amantadine, Apomorphine, Bromocriptine, levodopa, Pramipexole, Ropinirole) – dopamine agonists
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Risperidone, thioridazine)
• Atomoxetine
• beta-blockers(e.g., Metoprolol, Propranolol, Timolol)
• caffeine
• Carbamazepine
• Clopidogrel
• Codeine
• Cyclophosphamide
• Dabrafenib
• dexmethylphenidate
• Dextromethorphan
• Digoxin
• Doxorubicin
• Duloxetine
• efavirenz
• Eliglustat
• Fesoterodine
• Flecainide
• Galantamine
• Gefitinib
• Hydrocodone
• Linezolid
• lithium
• lumacaftor and Ivacaftor
• Meperidine
• Methylphenidate
• Metoclopramide
• Mexiletine
• mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors; e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine, Moclobemide, Selegiline) – bupropion should not be started until at least 14 days after MAO inhibitors are stopped
• nelfinavir
• Nicotine replacement therapy (e.g., nicotine patch)
• phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• primidone
• promethazine
• Propafenone
• rifampin
• ritonavir
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• Tamoxifen
• Tamsulosin
• Tetrabenazine
• theophylline
• Ticlopidine
• Tolterodine
• Tramadol
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Nortriptyline, Imipramine, Desipramine)
• Venlafaxine
• Vilazodone

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Bupropion Sr. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Bupropion Sr.

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Bupropion may affect the mental or physical abilities needed to drive or operate machinery. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous tasks until you have determined how Bupropion Sr affects you.

Glaucoma: Bupropion Sr may cause the symptoms of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) to become worse. If you have glaucoma, discuss with your doctor how Bupropion Sr may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Bupropion Sr, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Report any changes in vision to your doctor as soon as possible while you are taking Bupropion Sr.

Heart disease: It is not known whether bupropion is safe for use by people with a recent history of Heart Attack or unstable heart disease, as it can cause increased blood pressure. If you have heart problems, discuss with your doctor how Bupropion Sr may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Bupropion Sr, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Identical medications: Wellbutrin®, Zyban®, and several other medications contain the same active ingredient (bupropion). If you are taking one of these medications, do not take the other or any other product containing bupropion, as the risk of seizures increases with an increased dosage. To reduce the risk of seizures, the total daily dose of Bupropion Sr should not be greater than 300 mg.

Kidney function: Bupropion is removed from the body by the kidney. Decreased kidney function can cause Bupropion Sr to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have Kidney Disease, discuss with your doctor how Bupropion Sr may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Bupropion Sr, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Bupropion is removed from the body by the liver. Decreased liver function can cause Bupropion Sr to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver disease, discuss with your doctor how Bupropion Sr may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Bupropion Sr, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Bupropion Sr may also cause a decrease in liver function. If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Seizure risk: Bupropion Sr may increase the risk of seizures. If you are at risk of seizures, discuss with your doctor how Bupropion Sr may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Bupropion Sr, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Things which increase the risk of seizures include:

• addiction to cocaine, stimulants, or opiates (such as Morphine)
• Diabetes treated with oral medications or insulin
• excessive alcohol use
• history of head trauma
• history of seizures (including Epilepsy)
• severe liver problems
• tumours of the brain or spinal cord
• use of other medications that make seizures more likely (e.g., antipsychotics, antidepressants, lithium, Theophylline, steroids)
• use of over-the-counter stimulants or appetite suppressants

Serotonin syndrome: Severe reactions are possible when bupropion is combined with other medications that act on serotonin, such as tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin reuptake inhibitors ­– other medications used to treat depression. Similar effects occur when too much bupropion is taken or is allowed to build up in the body. Symptoms of a reaction may include muscle rigidity and spasms, difficulty moving, and changes in mental state including delirium and agitation. These reactions should be treated as a medical emergency and immediate medical treatment should be obtained as coma and death are possible.

Stopping the medication: Stopping Bupropion Sr suddenly may lead to side effects. If you are thinking of stopping the medication, check with your doctor first.

Suicidal or agitated behaviour, or other behaviour changes: Adults and children taking Bupropion Sr may feel agitated (restless, anxious, aggressive, emotional, and feeling not like themselves), or they may want to hurt themselves or others. These symptoms may occur within several weeks after people start taking Bupropion Sr. If you experience these side effects or notice them in a family member who is taking Bupropion Sr, contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor will monitor you for emotional and behavioural changes while you are taking bupropion.

Pregnancy: The safety of bupropion during pregnancy has not been established. It has been reported that babies born to pregnant women who have taken medications of this kind during the last trimester of pregnancy may be adversely affected. Physicians and pregnant women should carefully consider the benefits and the risks of all treatment options. If you become pregnant while taking Bupropion Sr, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: Bupropion passes into breast milk. Because Bupropion Sr presents risks to breast-feeding infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue bupropion, taking into account the importance of the medication to the mother. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of bupropion have not been established for children and adolescents under 18 years old. The use of Bupropion Sr in children below the age of 18 may cause behavioural and emotional changes, such as suicidal thoughts and behaviour.

Seniors: Because Bupropion Sr is removed from the body by the kidney and liver, seniors may be at an increased risk of side effects, including seizures, if they use Bupropion Sr. If you are over 65, discuss with your doctor whether any special monitoring is required.

<p><a href="/drug/novo-bupropion">Bupropion</a> belongs to the family of medications known as <i>antidepressants</i>. It is used to <b>treat Depression</b>. It works by affecting the balance of chemicals that occur naturally in the brain.</p><p>For the treatment of depression, the full effects of the medication may not be seen until after several weeks of treatment.</p><p><b>Bupropion Sr may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms.</b> Any specific brand name of Bupropion Sr may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Bupropion Sr may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.</p><p><b>Your doctor may have suggested Bupropion Sr for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles.</b> If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Bupropion Sr, speak to your doctor. <b>Do not stop taking Bupropion Sr without consulting your doctor.</b></p><p><b>Do not give Bupropion Sr to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do.</b> It can be harmful for people to take Bupropion Sr if their doctor has not prescribed it.</p>